In the past few years, Country has witnessed several horrifying crimes committed in different States under the guise of exorcising evil spirits or supernatural forces. Fraudulent godmen, tantriks, and religious cults have been involved in heinous acts such as murders, rapes, branding people with hot iron rods, and even child sacrifices. These incidents are on the rise, yet the Union – State governments have failed to introduce a strict anti-superstition law to curb these malpractices whereas such law should have been implemented at national level by the Union Government.
In recent years in Punjab, incidents like the brutal sacrifices of innocent children in villages such as Kot Fatta (Bathinda), Mudhal (Amritsar), and Khanna (Ludhiana) are chilling reminders of how deep-rooted superstitions still are. Similarly, in village Singhpura (Gurdaspur), a young man, Samuel Masih, was mercilessly beaten to death in front of his family by a Pastor and his associates under the pretense of exorcising an evil spirit. While the police arrested the main culprits, these innocent victims continue to suffer due to government negligence and a society steeped in blind faith.
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These are not just ordinary murders but premeditated and organized crimes where innocent children are manipulated and brutally killed. A stringent law should be enacted to punish the culprits through fast-track courts. It is distressing that despite such horrific incidents, the government has failed to take concrete action to put an end to these practices.
In this era of scientific advancement, such barbaric rituals in the name of faith are a disgrace to humanity and modern society. Why do we only express outrage over religious desecration but remain silent on such gruesome acts? These crimes directly violate our fundamental right to life, yet there is little public outrage.
A large section of Indian society, whether educated or uneducated, rural or urban, continues to be trapped in superstitions due to a lack of scientific temperament. Many people fall prey to fraudulent godmen, astrologers, and tantriks who exploit their fears and desires under the guise of divine power. These frauds deceive people with superstitious beliefs related to ghosts, black magic, planetary influences, and past-life karma while engaging in financial, physical, and psychological exploitation. The booming business of such fraudsters thrives due to the nexus between the government, corrupt politicians, and high-ranking police officials.
Cadres of Taraksheel Society at Trichy (13th FIRA Conference)
The deep-rooted superstition in society is fueled by economic, social, and psychological factors. However, the government’s corporate-driven policies, poor education, and lack of healthcare facilities are equally responsible. Instead of encouraging scientific reasoning and critical thinking, our education system promotes fatalism, religious dogma, and blind faith.
Our people also need to seriously consider this fact: if these fake tantriks, babas, astrologers, and swamis truly possessed any divine powers to solve every kind of problem, fulfill desires, and cure illnesses, then why don’t they first accept the challenge posed by various Rationalist Organizations in India to demonstrate their so-called divine powers and win the crores of rupees in prize money being offered? And why do they instead run businesses that exploit and deceive innocent people? If such babas, who are imprisoned sentences, really have divine powers, why don’t they miraculously free themselves from jail?
It is a matter of concern that Punjab, like its ongoing drug and extortion problems, is also plagued by the multi-billion-dollar fraud industry of godmen and deras (religious cults). Shockingly, no Vigilance, ED, Income tax, or CBI investigation has ever cracked down on these fraudulent religious leaders and their illegal wealth. Notorious figures like Gurmeet Ram Rahim , AsaRam Bapu, Narayana sain and many others are imprisoned for heinous crimes, yet political parties continue to support them for electoral gains by granting paroles and furloughs. What is even more disgraceful is that many devotees still blindly follow them despite their baba’s criminality.
It is essential for people to understand that under the Medical Registration Act, no person without a recognized medical degree can legally treat illnesses, whether physical or mental. Using faith, prayers, or alleged divine powers for healing is illegal and a punishable offense. Diseases cannot be cured through religious rituals.
Punjab’s government and Police are well aware that these fraudulent godmen violate multiple laws, including the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, the Cable Television Regulation Act, 1994, and the Medical Registration Act. Yet, due to political pressure, no serious legal action is taken against them.
According to Article 51-A(h) of the Indian Constitution, every Indian citizen has a duty to develop a scientific temper, humanism, and a spirit of inquiry and reform.However, the government, certain political parties, and religious institutions, in collusion with the media, continue to propagate blind faith and regressive ideologies.
It is noteworthy that states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Gujarat have already implemented Anti-Superstition laws due to continuous efforts by Rationalist Organizations. Since 1984, the Tarksheel Society of Punjab has been actively spreading scientific awareness against superstitions, blind faith, fraudulent miracles, black magic, and other social evils through public events, literature, and street plays. The organization has exposed thousands of fake godmen, forcing them to shut down their illegal businesses. However, due to the absence of an Anti-Superstition law in Punjab, many of these fraudsters escape legal punishment and relocate elsewhere to continue their deceitful practices.
Despite repeated petitions to previous Akali-BJP and Congress Governments,all the legislatures and Members of Parliament of Punjab as well as the current Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab Government, there has been no effort to introduce an Anti-Superstition law in Punjab. The refusal to enact this law shows deliberate negligence.
The government must also ensure that people’s basic needs such as education, healthcare, employment, and housing are met so that they do not turn to superstitious practices. Scientific temperament must be an integral part of our education system as per article 51-A(h) of Our Constitution and chapters related to Superstitions, religious fundamentalism and Spiritual Godmen should be abolished from educational academic syllabus.
It is now imperative for progressive, democratic, and rationalist organizations, intellectuals, and independent media to launch a mass movement against these fraudulent practices and compel the Punjab government to pass and implement ‘The Prevention of black magic,witch hunting and superstitious practices Bill ’ in the Punjab Assembly without any further delay.This will definitely help to curb the spread of superstitions and protect people from fraud and exploitation by these so-called spiritual Godmen.
Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) has already raised this important issue with Union as well as the State governments so as to pass and implement a stringent Anti Superstition law throughout the country without any further delay.
